Cutting Properties of Leather Material, Filled with Naturally Occurring Minerals

Efficient use of animal skins in the design of footwear is largely determined by its cutting properties. Uneven density, thickness and elongated topographic areas complicate the efficient use of leather in cutting.Skins filled with modified dispersions of natural mineral montmorillonite (MDM) and zeolite (MDZ), cause further formation of the structure of the dermis, which helps to increase its operational and hygienic properties. However , in terms of footwear manufacturing processes such skins are insufficiently studied.This article is devoted to the nature of the distribution of mineral filler in topographic areas of the skin, change of its thickness, distribution of elongation in the area and determination of the effectiveness of using such skins at cutting of upper parts.Mineral particles during the filling of semi-finished leather fill the gaps between the structural elements of the dermis , which effectively fills the peripheral areas and increases the thickness of the finished leather . Average value growth of skin thickness increased by 14,4% and the yield on the skin area by 3.1% -5.1%.Magnitude of the variations of linear dimensions of theupper parts related to the magnitude of uneven skin extension, dispersion of linear dimensions of parts in the formation (different length of parts, misalignment, distortion of model).Leveling of properties throughout the area, uniformity and evenness of elongation in the peripheral areas , increasing of the uniformity coefficient, higher values of tensile strength at 1,8-10,7% are observed in experimental animal skins. This will enable more effective and efficient use of animal skins in their cutting and, therefore, reduce the amount of waste leather, reduce the cost and price of the finished product